Chapter 147: Permission to Kill (3)

“I am here!” Huo Guang declared.

“I am here?” Huo Guang was indeed a subject, but that title should belong to Emperor Yan. To Yan Chuan, one should only refer to oneself as “subordinate,” “lowly servant,” or “humble official.” The term “subject” was reserved solely for the emperor.

Yet now, Huo Guang addressed himself as “subject”!

That single word seemed to herald something significant, drawing surprised glances from everyone present.

Yan Chuan also looked toward Huo Guang, staring at him for a moment.

In the end, Yan Chuan did not object; instead, he showed a faint, approving smile.

Meanwhile, Emperor Yan felt uneasy. However, as Yan Chuan’s status equaled his own and the court was in session with officials present, the emperor did not voice any opposition.

Only the assembled senior ministers wore conflicted expressions, unsure how to respond.

“Go forth and challenge the great powers of Zheng. As per previous rules, a single contest wagers twenty cities!” Yan Chuan said coldly.

“As you command!” Huo Guang responded promptly.

Huo Guang stepped into the center of the hall, planting the base of his Sky-breaking Spear firmly into the ground.

With a thunderous sound, the stone floor cracked in all directions.

“Zheng, who dares to fight?” Huo Guang roared fiercely.

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Yanjing, Crown Prince’s Palace.

“No, something’s wrong, Your Highness!” a guard called out again.

“Enter!” Yan Wudi replied gravely.

The guard rushed into the main hall, shouting, “Your Highness, just now five hundred men arrived and seized the dragon throne in the court!”

“Five hundred? Damn it! Where are the palace guards?” Yan Wudi frowned.

“They couldn’t stop them—there was no way! Their combat strength was overwhelming. Even just a hundred of them repelled a thousand guards!” the guard said grimly.

“What?”

“Oh, and they claimed to act under the order of the One-Character Allied King! But the Protector Corps couldn’t possibly be that powerful!” the guard said, incredulous.

“Yan Chuan?” King Du Jian said in surprise.

“Master, it must be Uncle Wang!” Yan Wudi said.

“That boy does have some tricks. Let’s go and see!” King Du Jian smiled.

With a wave of his hand, he and Yan Wudi shot out of the crown prince’s palace, soaring into the sky, disappearing swiftly among the clouds.

“Ah!” The palace guards watching the sky gasped in awe.

Flying through the clouds, they looked down upon all of Yanjing.

“At the training grounds!” Yan Wudi immediately spotted Yan Chuan and his company.

Hovering high above, Yan Wudi fixed his gaze intently on the training grounds below, while King Du Jian narrowed his eyes toward the distance.

Far away, atop a white cloud, two figures stood—Prime Minister Chang Qing of Yan and a woman wearing a bamboo hat.

“Miss, the youth sitting on the dragon throne below is Yan Chuan,” Chang Qing explained.

“Hmm,” the woman nodded, then seemed to sense something, looking off into the distance.

King Du Jian and the woman exchanged a glance but neither acknowledged the other.

Both simply stared downward.

Liu Gang said nothing, but the Crown Prince of Chu spoke up first.

“This battle, Chu will go first!” the Crown Prince of Chu declared.

“Zhang Gongfeng, you just joined Chu. This first battle is yours!” he said to the recently allied Yan official.

“Yes!” Zhang Gongfeng solemnly stepped into the arena.

Zhang Gongfeng had witnessed Huo Guang’s breakthrough before, but confident in his own experience, he accepted the challenge calmly.

The moment Zhang Gongfeng appeared, Yan Chuan recognized him. In the old Feng Shui formation, this man had stood behind Yan Wudi. Originally a Yan official, he had now defected to Chu? A traitor?

Yan Chuan’s eyes darkened.

“Huo Guang!” Yan Chuan said calmly.

“I am here!” Huo Guang respectfully looked toward Yan Chuan.

The surrounding princes looked at Yan Chuan in confusion.

“You are authorized to kill!” Yan Chuan’s voice was heavy and biting.

“Yes!” Huo Guang said excitedly.

The princes were stunned.

“Hmph, arrogant talk! Kill? We’ll see who kills whom!” the Crown Prince of Chu sneered angrily.

P.S.: The battle erupts tomorrow!